Growing Asparagus

Aspargus officianalis : Asparagaceae / the asparagus family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
                P P P  

(Best months for growing Asparagus in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • P = Plant crowns
  • Easy to grow. Plant as crowns. Best planted at soil temperatures between 61°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 16 inches apart
  • Harvest in 2-3 years. Plant 'crowns' to harvest earlier .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Parsley, Basil, Nasturtiums, Lettuce
  • Avoid growing close to: Garlic, Onions, and root vegetables

Your comments and tips

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21 Jul 14, gary stirrup (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
I live on the west coast near cape town , mediterranean climate - would this be good for asparagus winter rainfall , some people are growing ferns for export nearby,Where could I find crowns for sale
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28 May 14, KIM TAYLOR (Australia - temperate climate)
i have planned my asparagus and it is 3 years old i have the ferns i have pick 1 spear today for the first time i have never cut the ferns off am i suppose to i think i need some help please. I have a big veggie garden and want to grow more.
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31 May 14, Stewart (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Kim, you need to cut to old ferny growth every year once it starts to die off.
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21 May 14, Helen (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
I cut the ferny tops off my 2 year old crowns a few weeks ago and covered with lucerne hay. The weather has been so warm that they are sending up spears again. Should I cut these off or let them grow up to further feed the crowns. Am hoping for first good crop this spring.
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31 May 14, Stewart (Australia - temperate climate)
The weather sure is warm Helen. I'd be inclined to cut your spars off and have some late season asparagus. With winter just around the corner the spears are unlikely to develops any further.
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18 May 14, Sue (Australia - temperate climate)
I have had my asparagus crowns in for more than 2 years but they are only forming thin shoots. How can I encourage thicker shoots to grow?
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31 May 14, (Australia - temperate climate)
Thin stems usually means the plants need feeding. Cover them with manure and compost over winter and come spring fertilise with some pelletised chicken manure. A good mulch of straw will help also.
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13 Apr 14, Stephen Lenehan (Australia - temperate climate)
I have plenty of asparagus ferns and I have read items bout cutting back when they die of in autumn. They are still all green can I cut them back or should i wait till they die back????????????
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08 Apr 14, Koos de Klerk (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
Where can I obtain Crowns/roots from.
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02 Mar 14, pauline p (Australia - temperate climate)
In Newcastle NSW my 5ft asparagus ferns shade part of my Veg garden. Can I trim the tops a little? They never really brown off much - when is the earliest I can cut them down for winter??
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Showing 451 - 460 of 585 comments
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The transplanted ones will depend on how they were treated last year - whether they were left to build up energy reserves for this year. If you had plenty of spears grow into ferns then they should produce this year. Probably also depends how old the old crowns are. Last year while I was growing mine from 12 mth crowns to 24 mths I use to put about half a cup of fert in 9 L of water and feed them each month - only had 3 crowns. I also put manure/compost on in august. I have crowns that are coming up to 3 years old - that is from when seeds were planted - they have been shooting spears for a few weeks now - I have cut them back and manured and watered them. My seedlings which will be 12 mths old in Sept - I have not cut them back yet or put manure on them yet - will probably do that in about two weeks time. I have not watered them for the last month - they are not growing at the moment. As for manure - chicken is the richest in N followed by cow and then horse manure. I read the other day horse is about 1.75% N. Whatever manure you can get and add some fert if you like. We have had only one week of cool weather so far this winter - that is night temps down to 6-8 degrees.

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